“Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.” – George Eliot
Pets are part of the family in most households worldwide. And as you can see, the Alpadis Grpip team members love to dress their pets to impress.
Whether it’s a sharp sweater, a cozy jacket, or a classic bandana, Dress Up Your Pet Day on January 14th is the perfect day to celebrate your pet’s impeccable fashion sense.
Created in 2009 with the over-arching goal of raising pet adoption awareness, Dress Up Your Pet Day encourages pet parents to have fun with their furry family members by dressing them in comfortable, safe clothing and accessories (and taking plenty of photos).
Studies have shown that having a furry companion can positively impact not only their owner’s physical and mental well-being, but also their lifestyle.
It’s no surprise that pet ownership is on the rise globally—as of 2021, there are more than 950 million pet cats and dogs across the globe.
For example, three in five households in Asia have a pet. A recent survey in Asia found that the top three reasons to own a pet are to “to feel less down, less stressed” (41%), followed by “to have some company” (36%) and “to feel more secure” (36%).
Here are some facts and figures to consider if a move to Asia or Switzerland is in the future—and you will be accompanied by your best four-legged or two-legged friend.
Asia
- More Singaporeans are expected to welcome pet cats into their homes if the government lifts a decades-long ban on cats in public housing.
- Cats have been banned since 1989 in all Singapore condominiums and apartments built by the Singapore Housing and Development Board (HDB)— residents found to have a pet cat in their units can be fined at least S$4,000, but that could change.
- Recently, the board and Singapore’s Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) have opened a public consultation to assess how pet cats could possibly be allowed in HDB flats without displeasing residents who don’t like cats.
- The agencies hope to find ways to balance the interests of residents who love pets and those who could be affected by the consequences of irresponsible pet ownership.
- The fate of Singapore’s cats will be decided on March 2023, the end of the consultation period with key stakeholders that include animal welfare groups, veterinarians, community cat caregivers, cat-owning and non-cat-owning residents, and pet businesses.
- Hong Kong has strict lead laws; dogs can only run free in pet parks. All dogs must be kept on a lead in public places, and for dogs that weigh more than 20 kilograms, the leash should not be more than 2 metres long. Failing to adhere to these laws can attract a fine of 25,000 HKD or a three-month prison sentence.
- Pet hamsters are ok: Hong Kong has lifted its year-long COVID-19 small animal ban.
Switzerland
- If you only have one cat, it must have daily contact with people or have visual contact with other cats.
- It is illegal to declaw cats in Switzerland.
- Dogs must have contact with humans daily and, if possible, with other dogs.
- You shouldn’t leave a dog alone for more than four hours at a time.
- Switzerland is the only European country requiring all dogs to be microchipped and registered in a central database (in German, French, and Italian) by the time they are three months old.
- If you import a dog from abroad, you’ll need to take the dog to a Swiss vet within 10 days of entering the country.
- It is illegal to crop the ears or dock the tail of dogs in Switzerland. You also cannot use a device that punishes a dog for barking and making sounds, such as a shock collar.
- Some animals cannot be kept alone, according to the Swiss Animal Protection Act, for example: gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, canaries, budgerigars, parrots and many fish including goldfish. The country even has companies that will rent out guinea pig companions to people whose pet has recently lost their friend.
Happy Dress Up Your Pet Day from Alpadis Group!